Vehicle body



Dec. 5, 1939. CARR 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet l In l/en Ibr- Dec. 5, 1939. R 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY I Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 In 2 e n l'or- Dec. 5, 1939. R. CARR VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 19:55 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 [212/621 for 26% 5, 1939. R.- 1.. CARR 2,131,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig, 16 OK. I nq Fi'g,l7 8982 83 7 a2 3 89 I n yen for- Dec. 5, 1939. CARR 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1955 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I ll llll R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY Dec. 5, 1939.

16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 10, 1935 In 7/622 for R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1955 16 Sheets-Sheet T Inventor R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY Dec. 5, 1939.

Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-$heet 8 R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY Dec. 5, 1939.

Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inventor? Dec. 5, 1939. R R 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 lnu-enfor D66. 5, 1939. R R 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 Inventor VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 Inventor Dec. 5, 1939. R. 1.. CARR 2,181,869

VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1955 16 Sheefs-Sheet 1s VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10, 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 ff;*==:= 4 Y $40 151 417 404 m, I 4 406 J In venfor 5, 19 9. R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 10. 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 R. L. CARR V VEHICLE BODY Dec. 5, 1939.

Filed Aug. 10, 1935 '16 sheets-stint 16 Patented DecaS, 1939 assists UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .1 v

v I Vii 235 31)? i I. Raymond L. Boston,.Mass.

Application August 1 0, 1935, Serial N0. 35,610 29 Glaims. (Cl. Z 98-107) This invention relates. to improvements in vehicle bodies and particularly to such bodies having tops which may be lowered, the principal features of the invention relating .to tops of this :5 type and to features of body construction which are particularly advantageous when employed in conjunction with such tops.

Heretofore, vehicle bodies have been provided with collapsible or folding tops which have had many distinct disadvantages. suchtops .Senerally-have-had folding= linkages with numerous pivotal connections andhave had frame constructions which were relatively light and flimsy. The cloth or sheet covering of such tops has 56 tended to deteriorate rapidly during use, particuiarly if the top were frequently folded. Ob-

Jectionabi'e sagging ofthe fabric has tended tocause such tops to have an unsatisfactory appearance and to become irregular in form; .20 particularlyv when such topswere folded, the fabric would often be rather sharply creased or subjected to substantial chafing so that localized areas of the fabric became worn and leaky. Furthermore, tops of this type, when raised, depended primarily upon the tensile strength of the fabric to'support snow or the like so that substantial strains were imposed on the fabric and particularly the tendency toward sagging was accelerated. Furthermore, the conventional ,30 folding top has provided little protectlonfor the occupants of the vehicle in case of serious accident as, for example, whenthe, vehicle overturned. j.

There have also been. various proposals to 36 provide tops comprising rigid sections .and capable of being lowered. Such-arrangements have not received any substantial practical acceptance due to the objectionable appearance of the majority of such arrangements, due to the 40 complications presented thereby, or the limitations upon body design imposed by their use. The present invention is particularly intended to avoid these disadvantageous features of earlier tops and in general to provide a collapsible or ii} lowerable top which may be more satisfactory to the user of the Vehicle and which, especially in certain embodiments of this invention, may provide all of the primary advantages of the top .of a permanently closed car while still permitting 50 the vehicle to be driven as an open car, when desired, with the lowered top entirely concealed.

In addition to affording the cardinal advantages of. simplicity and freedom from rattles as .well as .sturdiness, durability and water-tightness,

56 the presntinvention particularly provides tops fabric sections are avoided.

whichmay be attractive in appearance 'and which may conform to the general design of the vehicle body. Such tops may be employed with 'bodies of different types and may be provided in different sizes to meet various individual require- ,,5 'ments.

In order to permit an attractive, smooth appearance, the tops provided by the present in vention may be arranged so that large sagging Thus when a cover 19 of fabric or flexible sheet material is employed, the major portion of the contour of the top may be distinctly deflned'by rigid shell sections having i only relatively small gaps therebetween which are bridged by the covering fabric. Accordingly the tendency of the fabric tosag does not result in objectionable alteration ofthe appearance of the top. Furthermore, the sections may be arranged upon folding so that sharp bends or creases in the fabric or undue strains upon localized portions thereof are avoided, while the fabric may also be protected against-chafing or pinching.

In accordance with other embodiments of this invention, a top may be provided having a single,

solid body 'section cooperating with a separate 5 movable rear panel. Such a top may have substantially all' of the advantages of a permanent top and in addition may permit the advantages of an open car. The tops of this type which are disclosed herein are characterized by construc ac tions which permit a smooth continuous surface to be provided along substantially the entire side of the top and thus avoid the'provision of objectionable cracks or'seams in conspicuous locations, a disadvantageous feature of some of the earlier sectional tops. The single seam or crack which may be provided in such a top may be disposed about the rear window"in a position analogous to that of the sheet metal seaming in closed car tops or the fabric seaming at the 40 rear of collapsible tops.

' In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the top for a one-seated vehicle,'i. e., a coupe, may be a single unit so that no exterior seams are necessary. In any case, I prefer to provide a top which, i when raised, may be substantially rigid and form retaining so that, for example, when the top is covered by a thick layer of snow, no substantial change in its form will result and so that substantial protection is afforded to the occupants of the vehicle in case of serious accident. Such a top of rigid or semi-rigid construction may be provided with satisfactory heat-insulating qualities and may have a good interior appearance,

vided below the lowered This invention also provides tops which may be sired, such tops may while, furthermore. it may be provided with accessories which are usually employed only in permanent tops of the closed-car type,'such as, for example. glare screens or shades. rear window curtains, dome lights, and the like.

To permitthese desirable results, the present invention provides tops which may have rigid sections or. body portions of generally arched form that are received within the rear stream lined tail portion of the vehicle. 'Ihus the vehicle may be provided with a deck or tail portion resembling that which is commonly provided in coupes and roadsters. The top itself or a rigid section thereof may be received within the rear, deck, the arched upper portion of this section being juxtaposed to and nested within the similarly shaped cover of the deck. Since the shapes of streamlined rear decks and of modern tops are both characterised by complex double curvatures, the individual shaping of stop and a deck to receive the same requires the working out of exact contours of these respective parts to suit the individual design. 'An important characteristic of the present invention is the arrangement ofthe top and associated parts so that the lowered top does not need to be lowered into the limited space between the rear wheel housings but rather may be over and/or behind the same. Another important feature of this invention is the arrangement of a top in this manner: so that the top flts relatively close to the upper part of the deck and a substantial luggage space is provided within and below the lowered top.

facilitate access to the topeasiiy lifted or lowered eitherby; manual manipulation or which are readily adapted to the provision of mechanical liftingarrangements. If debe manually movable but may be provided with assist mechanism to aid the operator in lifting and lowering the top. Such mechanism preferably may include a coun terbalancing spring or springs to bear part of the I it is being moved between weight of the.top as its lowered and raised positions. The invention also provides tops having rigid arch-like sections over the region of the rear seat of a two-seated vehicle, thus to provide substantial protection for the occupants of the rear seat and to aid in assuring the maintenance of a proper contour under all' conditions. Since the windshield standards may be relatively strong. he superstructure of a vehicle having such a rigid rear arch-like section may afford efl'ective protection for the occupants of both the front and rear seat, even in case of a serious accident. In the case of rigid tops,

constructions may be provided'to permit relatively light/ weight, employing, for example, several interconnected tubular sections so that a relatively strong structure is provided capable of supporting the weight of thevehicle should the latter be overturned.

The above and further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a vehicle body provided with a top capable of being lowered to a position within or beneath the rear deck, the top being shown in its lowered position by dot and dash lines and be g shown hermore, various features of this invention 7 storage space thus prothe tormer;

in athird when the door of the rear deck is-opened;'

Fig.2 is a sectional detail of the rear deck of shown;

optional position which it occupies- Fig.3 is ii view similar to Fig. but showing an optional form of top: 7

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view,jso inehat diagrammatic in character, of the rear part of the top shown in Fig. 8;.v

. Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing a body having another type of top;

- Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of a top suchas is illustrated in in its contracted condition, the dot and dash lines illustrating the position of the front portion of the top when the latter is extended;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a vehicle body with another form of top, the lowered top being shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 5, showing the top Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of the front" portion of the top illustrated in Fig. 7;

1 Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the rear part of a vehicle body with a dot and dash line showing of another form of lowered top;

Fig. 10 is a plan'view of the structural portion of the top shown in Fig. 9;-

Fig.'11 is adiagrammatic sectional view of such a top;

Fig. 12 is a central sectional view of the front portion of the top in its folded condition;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation folded top; V Fig. 14 is a section on line ll-lloi Fig. 10; Fig. 15 is a section on line lS-ll of Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a section on line IB-IB of Fig.'l0; Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the front portion of another type of top in its norinal extended condition: Fig. 18 is a similar view of the front portion of such a top in its contracted position;

Fig. 19 is a section on line i9l9 of Fig. 1'];

20 is a side elevation of the rear part of a vehicle body with the folded top shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the body illustrated in Fig. 20, showing the rear portion of the top and related parts Fig. 22 is a section indicated by line 22-22 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the rear part of the body and the top shown in Fig. 20:;

, Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the rear part of a vehicle body having a rigid top, the lowered top being shown by dot and dash lines;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of one side of the rear portion of the body shown in Fig. 24, certain parts being shown in optional positions by dot and dash lines;

Fig. 26 is a section on line 26-48 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a transverse section of the body in the of this portion ofthe I region of the hinge axis of therear door, but

showing the top inits lowered position:

Fig. 28 is a central vertical section of the rear deck of the body shown in Fig. 24, the top being shown in its lowered position and the door for the deck being shown in its raised position by dot and dash lines;

Fig. 29 is a rear elevation shown in Fig. 24;

top. and the body, showing fastening means for ofahalfofthebody' Fig. 30 is a sectional detail of a portion of the Fig. slisasimilarviewofaportionof theassembly shown in Fig.- 30, but showing optional means which may be associated with the same when the top is lowered; I

s Fig.32is aviewsimilartoFig. 24, butshowing another form of too: 1

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 25, but showing the form of .top. illustrated in Fig. 32;

.Flg.34isabottomviewofthetopshownin Figs. 32 and 33;

Fig. 35 is an enlarged section indicated by line 35-35 of Fig. 34, the parts, however, being arranged in their normal rather than in their inverted positions;

Fig. 36 is a view of the rear deck of the body illustrated in Fig. 32 with a portion of the outer covering of the body' and'certain parts removed;

Fig. 37 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the rear deck portion of the body shown in Fig. 32, the top beingshown in its lowered position;

Figs.38 and 39 are sectional details of portions of the rear deck;

Fig. 40 is a section indicated by line 4040 of Fig. 36,'but showing the left-hand side of the deck;

'Fig. 41 is 'a view of a portion of the body shown in Fig. 32, but with parts removed and with parts of the top broken away;

Fig. 42 is a plan view of a portion of the body shown in Fig. 32, illustrating the arrangement of this bodyadjoining the end of the rear seat; Fig. 43 is a sectional view of a part of the top guiding assembly;

Fig. 44- is a rear elevational' detail of a portion of the assist mechanism employed with a top of the type shown in Fig. 32; Fig. 45 is an inside view of a portion of the top shown in Fig. 32, particularly illustrating the rear fastening means for this top; Fig. 46 is a front elevation of a part of the assembly shown in Fig.

Fig. 4'7 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 48 isa sectional detail of the front fas- 45 tening means employed with tops of the type disclosed herein;

Fig. 49 is a sectional detail of the front portion of a top showing the arrangement of a glare screen in conjunction with the same; Figs. 50 and 51 are sectional details of the assembly shown in Fig. 49;

Figs. 52 and 53 are respectively sectional and elevational details of the fastening arrangement for securing the rear section of the top illustrated in Fig. 32 to the body-portion thereof;

Fig. 54 is a top plan view of a half of the rear portion of an optional type of body and top;

Fig. 55 is a side elevation of a body and top of the type illustrated in Fig. 54;

so Fig. 56 is a longitudinal section showing a detail of the arrangement of the top illustrated in Fig. 55 as well as related parts; and

Fig. 57 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section and somewhat diagram- 05 matic in character, showing the same assembly as illustrated in Fig. 56.

The accompanying drawings .illustrate several preferred adaptations of the present invention to individual body types and to meet individual commercial requirements, it being evident that the various conditions of price limitation, current style trends, and satisfaction of individual preferences which characterize the automobile industry necessitate the provisionof various in- 15 dividual designs to meet particular requirements.

It is furthermore to be contemplated that certain featuresv which may be illustrated with one of the several embodiments shown herein may be used with other of saidembodiments, and such combinations are regarded as within the purview of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the body I may be of the general type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 1967, being, however, of the single seated or coupe type and-having a unitary top 10 T which may be constructed of any suitable material such, for example, as sheet metal. As illustrated, the body I may be provided with a continuous housing H extending along its. side in the manner disclosed in my above-identified 15 application, although in so far as the principles of the present invention are concerned-the body might, for example, be provided with conventional rear mud guards having conventional streamlined tail portions. The body I is provided 90 with a rear deck having a relatively large door 2 which has a generally streamline form and which is disposed between the tail portions of the housings H. This door is provided with hingemeans within or adjoining the tail portions of the hous- 25 ings so that it may swing'to the open position shown in dot and dash lines.

The top T may be provided with arms 4 pivoted to the opposite sides of its rear portion, these arms being pivotally mounted adjoining the rear 90 parts of the wheel housings 5. The arms 4 may extend through notches in the lower edge of the rear wall of the top and over a small part of the fixed wall 8 of the deck in front of the-door '2. Notches 3 are provided in the rear edge of 35 wall 3; the arms 4 may extend through these notches when the top is raised, a small portion of each arm then being exposed. Belowtheir exposed portions,'the arms 4 curve outwardly so that they are spaced sumciently to receive the 40 nose of the top therebetween.

The top T has tapered studs 1 which may be received in complementary sockets in the body walsl. The raised top T may be secured to the windshieldstandards by any suitable means, such 5 as fastening bolts of the conventional type When the top T is to be lowered, such fastening means are disconnected and the door 2 is swung to it open position. Thereupon the top is swung rearwardly until it nests within the raised door 2 5o in the position shown at the left of Fig. 1. In

this position of the top the pivotal connections between the top and the arms 4 lie between and substantially coincide with the pivotal supports for the door 2, i. e., the axes of the pivots are in 55 substantial alignment; accordingly the top may maintain the same position relative to the door when the latter is lowered to normal position.

In order to aid in holding the top in this manner and also to occupy the notches 9 which other- 30 wise would be left open when the top is lowered,

I provide a pair of similar devices, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2. Such a device may coinprise a bracket l2 secured to door 2 and. pivotally supporting a rod 13. This rod has a head re- 65 ceived within a cylinder l5 and engaging a compression spring l6. Secured to the end of the cylinder is a hook l3 which may be movable un- I der the front end of the lowered top T. Extending also from the cylinder I5 is a block l9 hav- 7o ing a lug 20 engageable within a recess in the front of the door 2 so that when the assembly is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 the block I! occupies the recess or notch 9, the upper surface of this block being flush with the upper surface of the deck. whe the top is raised, cylinder I with the rod l3 maybe swung about the pivotal connection in the bracket l2 and. the cylinder may be turned a quarter turn about its own axis relative to the rod, so thatthe parts mayoccupy the position shown in dot and dash sition and-that the springis similarly effective in holding the hook l8 upon-the bracket 23 when the assembly is in its inoperative or dot and dash line position. When the top is to be lowered, the assembly may be moved out of its dot and dash line position and'the spring may be compressed so that the nose of the top is engaged by the hook l8, and the lug 20 enters the recess at the front of door2; thereupon when the door is lowered, the block I9 substantially fills the notch 8 and the front end of the top remains connected to the door 2 to swing therewith.

Fig. 3 illustrates a top T which may be lifted and lowered in the same manner as the previously described top T. However, the top I is somewhat longer than the top T and, for example, may be conveniently employed on'a body 24 having closely spaced front and rear seats, for

- example, a body of the so-c'alled Victoria type.

The top T while being swingable on arms 4 in the manner described above, may be provided with a rear portion which. is somewhat distortable so that the effective length of the lowered top may be somewhat reduced to permit the top to be received in a smaller storage space than otherwise would be possible. Thus, for example,'the shell portion of the top may be provided with a rigid arch-like part 25 (Fig. 4) to extend over the rear seat and with a distortable rear section 26 which may assume the shape shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 when the top is lowered. Devices of the i type shown in Fig. 2 also may be employed with the top T Fig. 5 illustrates a top T which may be associated with a body 30 having a somewhat longer passenger compartment than a body of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 6, the top T may include a rigid rear section 3! and a rigid nose portion 32, these portions being slidably connected to each other by bars 33 fixed to the nose section and slidably received within sleeves 36 upon the sides of the rear section 3|. The front portion of the rear section may be beveled, as designated by numeral 31, and may support a sheet metal apron 38 which is fixed to the nose section 32 and slides over the rear section 3| when the top is collapsed. The apron 38 may be slightly distortable but maintains a substantially rigid structure between the spaced sections 3i and 32 when the top is in. normal position.

A top of this type may be provided with a fab- I ric covering secured to the rear part of the rigid rear section and the front part of the corresponding front section but being free of connection to the top structure between these sections, so that when the top is collapsed the fabric may bulge over the wheel housings 43.

9,181,; the

' dash lines in Fig. 7, the nose portion of the top may be foldeddownwardly and inwardly so that it is disposed at an acute angle to the adjoining rear part of the top. When the rear door 42 of the body illustrated in Fig. 7 is swung to its open position, i. 'e., to aposition corresponding to the dot and dash line position of the door 2' of Fig 1, the nose portion of the top may be strappedpr otherwise secured to the door. When the door is closed, the nose portionis disposed As shown in Fig. 8,-suitable connections may "be provided between the solid or rigid rear section 44 of the top '1. and its nose portion 45. A wide variety of connections may be provided for this purpose, but I prefer to provide arrangements whereby a substantially continuous .sup-

. port is provided for the top fabric so that only a small space or small spaces are aflmded which arebridged by the fabric without direct underlying supporting means.

to provide structure of this type which is normally rigid under an imposed load, for example when a thick layer of snow is on the top or a heavy object is beingsupported by thesame.

Furthermore, it is desirable to arrange the folding portion of the topso that thetop fabric is not stretched as the top folds. Obviously it would be structurally feasible and is within the broad purview of the invention to make a folding top of this character witha plurality of solid sections connected by conventional hinges having parallel horizontal axes. With such hinge arrangements, however, when the'top is folded, the fabric would be stretched between the edges of the sections and thus subjected to substantial strains and distorted out of its normal form.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 not only aflords a substantially continuous support for the covering fabric with but a single gap where the Furthermore, I prefer fabric is not directly supported, but also provides a structure which does not tend to collapse when subiectedto substantial downward pressure, and

.an arrangement which permits the'eifecti've circumferential extent of the folded-portion of the .topto be less than the extent of this same portion when unfolded, so that the fabric, rather than being'stretched, is somewhat loosened or relaxed when the top is folded. For this purpose the rear section 44 may be connected by a long transverse hinge 46 to a sector bar 41, the lower end of which has pivotal connections 48 with a similar forwardly and upwardly inclined bar 49. The latter in turn may be connected by a hinge 48. to a rigid sector section 50 which in turn is connected by a hinge 46 to the nose portion 45. 1

The sector bars 41 and 49 may normally be held in the illustrated angular relation to each other by toggle links 53, while toggle links 54 may connect the rear bar 41 to the rear section 44, toggle links 56 connecting the front bar to the rigid sector section 50, and similar links 51 connecting the latter to the nose portion. Obviously when a top of this type is folded, the toggle links 53, 54, 66 and 51 are actuatedsothat the hinged sections may swing relative to each other, bringing the upper portions of the bars 41 and 43 into close juxtaposition. Accordingly the eflective extent of the outer. portion of the folded 

